Amusement game



T. H. POPE.

AMUSEMENT GAME.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 11. 1920.

1,416,506., Patented May 16, 1922 v INVENTOR 220mm r10 Fape' ATTORNEY,

f it,

THOMAS HARVEY POPE, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

AMUSEMENT GAME.

Application filed March 11, 1920.

useful Improvements in Amusement Games,-

of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to amusement games for study and pastime, whereinit requires attention and persistency to accomplish the successfulcorralling of the spheres in proper corners. 7

One object of my invention is to produce a small game that may becarried in the pocket, so that its use may be not be limited in any waywhatsoever.

Another object is to produce such game, easy to manufacture, reasonablein cost, in other words, to make a simple, neat, cheap and attractivegame that will command the interest and attention of every one who seesit.

The object of the invention is to get the small balls from the center ofthe container and hold three balls in each of the opposite cornersbehind the partitions.

The invention as at present preferred is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which-Figure 1, shows the game as it appears when restingon a fiat surface; Figure 2, a cross sectional view taken on lines 2-2of Figure 1,- .Figure 3, a detached detail of the floor, showing theposition of the partitions in opposite corners; Figure 4, a plan viewlooking into the container, showing the pillows in the opposite corners;Figure 5, is a modified construction of Figure 3; Figure 6 is a view ofone corner showing the pillow in place and the slant of the floortowards the opening, and Figure 7 shows a modified way of accomplishingthe invention.

The same reference characters designate the same parts throughout theseveral views.

The game herein shown looks so simple that at the first glance, theperson picks the same up, reads the instructions and at once sets aboutto accomplish the task, the simplicity lies in the fact that the game isvery deceptive to the eye, therefore the difficulty of corralling threeof the restless little spheres while trying to get the other three intheoppositecorner.

Referring to Figure 1, the receptacle or container 7, which is in thepresent case preferably rectangular in shape, is pro- Specification ofLetters Patent. Patented lway 16, 1922.

Serial No. 365,126.

vided with outer walls 8, 9, l0 and 11, with the bottom 12 securedthereto. 13 and 14 are pillows that are in this instance made secure intheir respective corners, so that when the floor 15 is placed thereon itwill cause these triangular portions of the floor at these particularpoints to assume a differ:

ent angle or slant from other portions of the same, particularly thecorner portions of the flooring opposite to that containing the pillows,the whole flooring presenting a smooth rolling or undulated surface forthe spheres to roll over.

It is preferred to give the floor surface 15 a twisting rollingundulated surface that will have a gradual sloping incline or de clineat any of its various points therein, such unevenness being gradual andununiform, wlth the end in view to make it harder for the performer todivide the num- I ber of little spheres some behind one compartment andthe balance in the other. The floor may be provided with suitable slits16, 17 and 18 in which may be secured a number of partitions 19, 2O and21. It is preferred as has been noted to provide partitions of the samematerial as that of the floor, such for instance as will afford a littleresistance, being in this instance about a 3 ply paper, as the bestresults can only be attained by having the balls bounce and bound aroundby their contact with the partitions, and their arrangement such thatthey divide the opposite corners into triangular corrals for thespherical bodies that I will describe further on. Such angular corralsbeing formed by the sides of the receptacle and the three partitions soarranged that, two of the partitions are located in the forward slits,and being in alignment and spaced apart, permits of a passage way oropening 22, while in the rear is placed another partition 21 whichextends across the opening 22, and thereby preventing the free movementof the spherical bodies towards the exit 22. The forward partition orpartitions 19 and 20 may only be secured to one side of the slits 16 and17 when the pillows are used, thus leaving the other portions to assumeany angular position by reason of the pillows 13 and 14. As is noted inthe drawing each of the opposite corners are provided with likepartitions, therefore it is not necessary to describe each cornerseparately, the description of one corner with its partitions willsuffice for the opposite corner. It is to be understood that thepartitions one and all are of such resilient material that when theballs come in contact with them accidentally or otherwise in trying tocorral them, they will bounce and bound away, making it very dillicultfor the performer or operator to control the movements of the manyspheres. It matters not whether the pillows are used, as long as theflooring is given that smooth roiling uneven surface over which the manyballs roll, both within and without the partitioned compartment,together with the fact that the partitions that extend above the floorare lively,

which is absolutely necessary, as has beennoted, as to cause theaccomplishment of the game to be more hazardous, to the great interestandamusement of the performer.

Itis preferable to use six steel balls "23, which are placed inthecontainer before the cover 24, which is preferably of glass and issecured. in place on the side walls 8, 9, 10 and 11, and abinder pastedabout it, and the side walls, which completely closes the container, bythis means it-not only closes, but secures all the parts together. Bysuch closure the game is made attractive l-I]. appearance.

, 'By reason of the partitions 1.9 andQO being-1n alignment, it forms atriangular compartment or corral, and by reason oi? this portion ofthefloor resting on the pillows 13 and 14, and being free to. assume anyposition it causes thetriangulai." portions 25, 26 and 27 to assume ahigher incline thanat the opening 22, thus the flooringgiaS within suchtriangleis such as to form a trough towards the opening or passageway,and it will be readily seen that: it will make it very diflicult to holdthree balls behind the partitions while working on the opposite corner,yet it can be done,but only with patience and persistency.

"The floor 15 after the partitions have been secured thereto has a daubor paste' in the center which holds it securely to the bottom ,ofthecontainer and at the same time by reason of it being placed in thecenter as noted it causes the rest of the flooring out side of thepartitions to assume its in'teinled pitch or-slants from all directionstowards the center, and thereby the center of the floorbeingpasted tothe bottom, causes the small balls to always rest in the center. By

reason of-the pillows at the opposite ends,

and the slitted portions being free to assume anywdesirediangle italso-causes the corners 28.nndx29 to be just slightly higl-ier thanthatiportion. that is immediatelypasted to the floor of thecontainergthis will cause a pitch or'slant ofthe floor from all corners.towardthe center as is shown in Figure 1.

:The sole-:objeet-in cutting slits in thefioor is not so much for thepurpose of setting the partitionszthereimzas to give thesilom .videdwith partitions, to incline also.

Oi course, it will be understood that the arrangcmentexists in formshown ind igure 5, wherein it is necessary to positively se cure theflooring at= the proper heights by adhesives or other means when theparti- .tions are placed therein, as the extensions prevent the lowerends or the partitions touching the bottom of the-container, thus itwill be seen. that this is the only way that the door could possibly getthe =necessary smooth rolling uneven surface for the balls to rollover.- It is necessary to pastethe flooring to one or both sides of the'partitions when the partitions-do not touch the bot tom of thecontainer, at other times it may only be necessary to paste on one side,espe ciallyis this true when the: pillows. aroused As-show-n in Figure"5, the Ffloor 15 has downwardly supporting extensions on wall sides,such extensions being so out aswto' not only give the floor-15the-proper angular pitch, the slits for the partitions beingfso locatedas shown in FigSuL-Q and 3: andtree 100 from the side extensions, thus'leaving'the triangular portionbehind the positionsto assume any-angularposition without inter- :tering iii-any way witlrthe desired object ofthe invention. It'will behhere'noted' that I by reason 01 suchextensions and their angular lines, it does not require pillo-wsrorother additions as the extensions on'the floor accomplish the samepurpose to the same extent as that shown. in the other figures.

Again, itmay be found advisable to have the fore'partition madeinxone'piece and be provided with an entrance or opening therethrough,while I have constructed some so provided, have decided thatwhere-separate partitions are provided it afiordslor "the sphericalbodies resilient means wherebythe many balls are keptgoing'lrom .oneside to another by the elasticity OYElJhGqDEtIt'liLlOHS themselves.

The invt-ntion' be attained in many ways as'has been-noted, forinstance, it is desirable that the partitions besecured to the'floorfrom one side only after they'have been properly adjustedin theirrespective slots, this is done first, so that-the flooring' within thecorner 'of the' triangle will assame a di flerent slant from that on theotherside or said partition byfbeingplaeed on the pillows and secondlywhere no pillow is used, the two front partitions are fitted into theirrespective slits in the floor so that a certain portion of the same extnds below the floor as well l above, again when tln is done all threepartitions may be shaped on their lower end so as to sustain and givethe flooring within and without the triangle the desired slant that ithas when the pillow is used. It has been found more advantageous to makeseparate partitions as by doing so they are more resilient and cause thespheres to bounce on coming in conta t with them, whereas if the frontpartition had a passage way out into it, the partitions by reason oftheir length, would deaden. the activities of the spheres.

In accordance with the provision of the patent statutes, I have hereindescribed the principal forms of n y invention which I now consider torepresent the best embodiment thereof, but I desire to have itunderstood that the various forms are only illustrative and that theinvention can be carried out in other ways other than those described,but all are intended to come within the scope of the claims. Also whilethe design of the game is rectangular, it may be changed or altered tomeet the particular requirements without interfering in any way with thegeneral results for which the puzzle or game was designed.

l/Vhat I claim as new is:

1. A game or toy for amusement purposes comprising a rectangularcontainer provided with a smooth rolling uneven floor, of a plurality ofresilient partitions secured to the floor forming compartments inopposite corners, spherical bodies therein and a transparent top forsaid container.

2. In combination with a container, of a separate floor therein having asmooth twisting uneven surface provided with a plurality of resilientpart tions forming compartments in opposite corners, the flooring withinsaid compartments differing in pitch to that of the outer, sphericalbodies adapted to roll about said floor and be confined within oppositecorners.

3. A game or toy having a smooth twisting uneven surface provided withaplurality of resilient partitions extending into slots in the floor toform an enclosure, the rolling pitching floor surfaces within andwithout the compartment differing, the front partitions being so spacedas to form a central opening, another of such partitions located in therear and in line with said opening. to intercept the passage of thespherical bodies, and a closure for the container.

4;. In combination with a receptacle comprising a bottom, sides andtop,a floor suitable supported therein to give it a smooth rollingundulated surface, spaced partitions provided inopposite corners to formcompartments, and a plurality of balls therein adapted to be corralledand held within such partitions in opposite corners.

5. In combination with a container provided with a transparent top, afloor within the same provided with cuts or slits to re ceive and hold aplurality of partitions, said partitions extending above and, below theslits in said floor, one set of partitions placed opposite the other,each set provided with an opening, and plurality of spherical bodiestherein.

6. The combination with a receptacle, of a separate floor therefor,means for elevating certain portions of the same, of front and rearpartitions opposite each other, each of the front partitions providedwith an opening, back partitions in the path of the openings, sphericalbodies to be corralled behind each 'set of partitions, and a transparentcover for said receptacle. I

7. A game or toy having certain portions of its floor pitch towards thecenter, partitions secured to and extending above and below the floor,passageways in the outer partitions for the passage of the sphericalbodies therethrough, the said flooring within the partitions pitchingtowards the passageways, and acontainer having a transparent face.

8. A game or toy having parts of its floor rest on pillows, partitionsarranged in opposite corners, the flooring behind said partitionsadapted to assume a different angle from that in front, spherical bodiesadapted to roll about the floor and about the partitions, and acontainer having a transparent face secured thereto.

9. A game or toy consisting of a container, pillows suitably locatedtherein, a flooring provided with partitions and the former secured tothe container, said pillows arranged to give the flooring within thepartitions a pitch towards the passageway, and that outside towards thecenter, of spheri cal bodies adapted to pass between the sev eralpartitions, and a container having a base with suitable sides supportinga transparent face.

10. A game or toy consisting of a rectangular container, of supports tohold the floor at a suitable distance from the bottom at various points,said flooring provided with partitions to ,form corrals for thespherical bodies at opposite points, passageways through certain of thepartitions, the flooring within the corrals sloping towards the opening,the flooring outside of the corrals sloping towards the center, saidcontainer having a bottom, side walls to support and have securedthereto a transparent face.

11. In a game or toy, the combination with a container, a floor withinprovided with apertures or slots to receive the partitions, means forgiving said-floor a variety of slants about the interior and exterior ofthe partitions, and spherical bodies adapted to roll about said floorand be corralled equally behind each set of partitions.

12. The combination with a closed container having therein a smoothrolling un dulated floor surface, two partitioned com-- partments oneineach opposite corners, each compartment provided With a plurality ofspaced resilient partitions, the flooring Within inclined diilerentlyfrom that without, the front partitions spaced to "form an openingwhilethe rear partition obstructs such opening, and a plurality of ballsadapted to be corralled Within the partitions on opposite sides.

18. In a puzzle oi": the character described, a floor having a smoothundulated surface, partitions in the corners thereof forming triangularcompartments, additional partitions therein obstructing the entrance ofsaid compartment, the flooring Within said compartments pitching from aplurality of points therein, and a plurality of balls adapted to becorralled and held behind said partitions and Within said compartment.

14:. In a puzzle, a floor having inclined portions at all cornersthereof, partitions in two of said corners to form compartments, and aplurality of balls adapted to be corralled and held in saidcompartments.

15. In a puzzle of the character described, a flooring having a smoothundulated surface, partitions in opposite corners thereof, said flooringsecured to the side of said partitions, compartments formed by saidpartitions, and a plurality of balls adapted to be corralled and heldbehind such partitions.

In testimony whereof he affixes his signature. I

T. HARVEY POPE.

